Paths versus beds on allotments

[zazen999]

Yes, I have an allotment

Yes I use beds with paths in between

No, they aren't a waste of space.

I grow lots of winter squashes and the plant grows along the paths and the fruit stays clean.

Unlike yours which have to be propped up on buckets to stop them getting muddy. Like your boots, which get caked in mud whenever it rains. [Mine don't].

And, flowers that I plant on the corners spill out onto the paths bringing bees and other wildlife onto the plots - these do actually pollenate your plants even though you don't seem to have any space in your regimented rows for flowers. No need for any thanks though, that's fine.

I can also throw weeds onto my paths to dry out, so that they can then be swept into a pile once dried out and dealt with [burnt or composted].

They also are a good place to house modules waiting to be planted out, without these getting knocked over. And a plethora of other uses, such as putting onions and garlics out to dry, a place to store wood for the next bed sides, a storage spot for containers that are housing seed pods ripening - I could go on.

That's all

[Just practicing my speech for the inevitable....]

Thanks for reading.....

[Snadger]

And of course.......you can sometimes walk on them!!!!!!!!!

[basketcase]

And of course.......you can sometimes walk on them!!!!!!!!!

That's what I like best about this forum - always a handy tip you'd never have come up with yourself!

[HeyWayne]

I'm with you on this.

I find beds easier to manage - you can concentrate on one area at a time.

A while ago my dad came down to help me dig over. I had to leave early one day so left him to it. I came back the following morning and there was a large area "rotivated" - the back of which I couldn't get anywhere near.

"Use a plank to walk on" they say - fine if you have a plank I say.

I also find that broken up into beds the plot doesn't look half as daunting as it does when it's one big block of land.

[Alison]

I have beds on the whole, I like the fact that I can "do" a whole bed and feel a sense of satisfaction when I just nip up for a bit whereas the guy a couple along who has massive areas under cultivation keeps getting demoralised that he's never finished. I can plant closer together in beds anyway which makes up some of the path space.

[Emmylou]

Yes, I have an allotment


"I grow lots of winter squashes and the plant grows along the paths and the fruit stays clean. "

What a good idea!! I have half the allotment with fruit and spuds at the moment, with the other half raised beds with membrane/wood chip paths. I have some pumpkins I could plant in the beds and get to trail down the paths.
I sometimes wonder if I have "wasted" too much space, but on the whole I think the advantages you have pointed out far way out the "loss" of space.
With a dry path you can do things even after heavy rain.

[miffy]

I am with you zazen i have beds between my raised beds, i made them wide enough so that i can sit to weed, i have a bad back and dodgy knee and this makes it so much easier for me, like you i make the most of their benefits i have also covered some with wood chip and have found that the beds next to this do not get slug damage as the slimy little critters don't like/can't crawl across the bark. Raised beds and paths are the only way i manage my plot and i don't feel i loose anything as i plant more intensively and can spot any bug a lug attacks as can walk around the plants from all angles.

[zazen999]

I am with you zazen i have beds between my raised beds, i made them wide enough so that i can sit to weed, i have a bad back and dodgy knee and this makes it so much easier for me, like you i make the most of their benefits i have also covered some with wood chip and have found that the beds next to this do not get slug damage as the slimy little critters don't like/can't crawl across the bark. Raised beds and paths are the only way i manage my plot and i don't feel i loose anything as i plant more intensively and can spot any bug a lug attacks as can walk around the plants from all angles.

I like a raised bed because of my elbow issue, there's no way I can be up and down and I have to have a kneeler to kneel on whilst I am prepping, planting, weeding and harvesting.

I'm the only one with this method.....and get the comments coming about how much space I'm wasting. I'm just preparing my speech for the next time...as we've got newbies who are all going for the traditional approach.

Saying that, I also uprooted some onions last night and transplanted to a different bed tonight as they weren't doing much at all. None of the old 'planting in rows'...I did the Monty Don method of chucking them down and planting where they landed. Then randomly transplanted radishes in between. Then sowed carrots in random loose blocks in another bed.

Lines - pah - who'd have 'em

[plotman]

I think its all down to peronal choice, both systems seem to work, Raised beds seems less daunting and appears to be popular with new allotmenteers, particularly are lady colleagues. Im guessing they are more easily managed as the main attraction.I garden the traditional way in rows and argue all you like, but mathematically the use of paths around raised beds has to reduce growing area and thus reduce potential harvest.But hey, we all garden to relax, so whatever suits

[Snadger]

You lot sound like a load of old crocks with your dodgy knees, elbows, aching backs arthritic hips etc!!!!

I have raised beds!

[zazen999]

I think its all down to peronal choice, both systems seem to work, Raised beds seems less daunting and appears to be popular with new allotmenteers, particularly are lady colleagues. Im guessing they are more easily managed as the main attraction.I garden the traditional way in rows and argue all you like, but mathematically the use of paths around raised beds has to reduce growing area and thus reduce potential harvest.But hey, we all garden to relax, so whatever suits

Apart from...if you add up all the space in between each row in a non-bed style, it more than adds up to the paths....I did an analysis once and if you follow the spacings given for main crops you end up having [muddy] narrow paths between each crop anyway.

And yes Snadger, we are a load of all Crocks.

[plotman]

Hmmmm here what you say but not convinced. I prefer the old proven methods. But then my knees are ok lol

[Snadger]

Hmmmm here what you say but not convinced. I prefer the old proven methods. But then my knees are ok lol

Each to there own plotman there's good and bad with both systems and I don't blame you for doing what feels right for you!

[plotman]

I will settle for that ) On a different note i do hate the use of plastic and carpet to suppress weeds .So unsightly and i do love to see allotments that are up together and in crop. I appreciate its believed to be an enviramentally friendly way to suppress weeds, but am i right in thinking it actually kills the friendly bacteria/ bugs etc within the soil?

[SarzWix]

Didn't you already have that discussion plotman? http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...hhh_28396.html
Let's not go there again eh?!